Abbas discusses peace process with US, Russia

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday separately discussed the fate of the stalled Middle East peace process with US and Russian diplomats.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday separately discussed the fate of the stalled Middle East peace process with US and Russian diplomats.

The Palestinian state-run news agency Wafa reported that Abbas held talks at his office in Ramallah first with US Consul General in Jerusalem Daniel Rubinstein, and then with the Russian diplomatic representative to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Sergi Kozlov, Xinhua reported.

"President Abbas discussed with the two official diplomats the recent developments in the Palestinian territories and the efforts to revive the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians," said the report.

According to official Palestinian sources, Abbas' meetings with the two diplomats were to prepare for the upcoming visit of the US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell.

A presidential statement praised Russia's role in the peace process, saying: "Russia is an important active member of the international Quartet Committee, which also includes the United States, Europe and the United Nations."

"President Abbas reiterated the necessity of all parties' commitments to the signed agreements and the accurate implementation of the Roadmap plan for peace in the Middle East," said the presidential statement.

Senior Palestinian sources in Fatah party said there were intensive efforts involving Egypt to resume the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

The sources said in a press statement sent to Xinhua that efforts focus on presenting a package proposal and setting up a timetable for completing the negotiations on the final status issues.